'Entourage' Finale: THR Goes Behind-the-Scenes of the Series

The hit HBO series wraps its eighth and final season on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 10:30 p.m.

When Entourage premiered in 2004, the HBO series quickly established itself as TV's most important -- and frighteningly accurate -- show about the entertainment industry. The 25-time Emmy nominated HBO series and six-time winner will end its eight year run on Sunday, Sept. 11.

"I went out to the last day of shooting [June 28], and I had a lump in my throat. It's very bittersweet," said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming. "This is a great group of people, and the show has meant an enormous amount to HBO. When you have something that's working, it's very hard to see it end."

It seems likely that Entourage will live on, as executive producer Mark Wahlberg has been vocal about his goal to bring the boys to the big screen. “I think with the success of Sex and the City, there’s a good chance people believe there could be a great movie here,” Wahlberg told THR. “I will fight to the end to get the movie made.”
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"I don't want to give too much away, but I think it was important to all of us involved that we didn't do an 'ending' ending," actor Kevin Connolly noted of the finale. "We wanted to tee it up and be prepared to hopefully do the movie. We're certainly not in a rush. The most important thing is that it's done the right way. We've got a rep to protect," he added with a laugh.

Though Entourage has become an iconic piece of pop culture, the series almost didn't make it to air.

Ellin’s first script had no fans at HBO when it was first pitched. Ellin recalled getting a call from executive producer Steve Levinson, who told him, “They hated it.” Levinson and Ellin both said it started in a far dark place, one they would ultimately take the show to several seasons later. “It opened at the premiere of Vince’s movie, everybody hated it and nobody knew how to tell him,” said Ellin. HBO executives kept telling them to make it “more fun,” and to focus on the wish fulfillment. Stars Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven and Connolly were equally as uninterested in being involved at first.

In regards to the closing chapter in the weekly series, Ellin said, "the only thing I can share is, I think that people who have always loved the show and people who’ve hated the show, or changed their minds in the middle of the show, I think this will satisfy everybody."

"I think we really hit it as good as we were going do on this season," he added.

Entourage airs its last new episode Sunday, Sept. 11 at 10:30 p.m. on HBO.